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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






2. A piece of music written in triple time. Also an old French dance.






3. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






4. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






5. A line in a contrapuntal work performed by an individual voice or instrument.






6. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






7. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






8. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






9. The principal note of a triad.






10. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






11. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






12. The raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note.






13. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






14. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






15. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






16. A dirge - hymn - or musical service for the repose of the dead.






17. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






18. The expression the performer brings when playing his instrument.






19. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






20. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






21. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played grandly.






22. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






23. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






24. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






25. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






26. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






27. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






28. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






29. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






30. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






31. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






32. Music that is easy to listen to and understand.






33. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






34. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






35. A composition written for eight instruments.






36. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






37. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






38. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






39. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






40. A symbol indicating to play loud.






41. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.






42. Lowest female singing voice.






43. The unit of musical rhythm.






44. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






45. A period in history dating from the 14th to 16th centuries. This period signified the rebirth of music - art - and literature.






46. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






47. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






48. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






49. A piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists.






50. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.